By the Numbers

Showing posts with label Serious Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Serious Issues. Show all posts

Monday, November 16, 2015

Are OT Yahweh and NT Jesus Different Gods?

                Are OT Yahweh and NT Jesus Different Gods?

Yahweh appears a judging punishing God, while Jesus is a loving forgiving God. Yahweh is one God, but Jesus has a Father and sends the Holy Spirit who are said to be God. These seem to be strange contradictory concepts.  Are there good answers we fair-minded people can understand.
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           The Prerequisites to understanding the Christian faith.
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1. The Bible God is creator of time, space, matter, and life including man in His image. "In the beginning (time) God created the heavens (space) and the earth (matter). God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them, male and female. Then God looked down over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good." Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 31 NLT.  All the rest of the Bible is based upon this. Now, if God be creator, then lessor things as miracles are no problem.
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The Bible plainly says God created the universe. However, other world religions taught the universe is eternal. So, they can't be right! Medieval philosophers knew that if there were an infinite number of days before today, that today could never arrive. Scientists in recent decades claim the universe exploded with a big bang. It's expansion suggests a central beginning point. Heat depletion too shows it had a beginning. Now both science and logic say that from nothing, nothing comes because nothing has no power, force, mind, or will--it's nonexistence. Every beginning thing must have a cause--it can't create itself. So what is the nature of  this source or cause of the universe?
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First, we have a universe, not a multi-verse as shown by its vast unity, complexity, design, and order. Further, all this being natural effects, it necessarily requires a supernatural cause meaning an immaterial, eternal, unchangeable, infinitely powerful Self-existent Mind and Will.  Friends, this supernatural Source is very much like the Bible describes  its perfect God. 
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Now consider the old question: Which came first the chicken or the egg? (1) Hen and rooster are compatibly designed to produce chicks. (2) Hens have a protein called overleiden 17 in their body essential for egg shells to form. (3) Hens must lay on eggs 21 days to keep them warm to hatch fully formed chicks. (4) Hens must turn their eggs over 3 or more times a day to maintain warmth. (5) The chicks must peck their way out of the shell to gain strength. (6) The hen protects her chicks under her wings and shows them how to get food and water. (7) Chicken DNA designs chickens, not some other kind of bird or animal. (8) And chickens are bred by human intelligence, not by accident. All this shows life forms are created to reproduce after their own kind. But man is in God's rational, moral, immortal image. This demolishes macro evolution. It's only a speculative theory--blind mindless material molecules can't arrange themselves into men.
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2. The Bible God has made Himself known to receptive hearts through the ages in many ways. Our first parents in Paradise were innocent until they sinned in choosing self over God. Human conscience and government proved ineffective guides. God through Moses gave Israel a system of laws and sacrifices but Israel's pride prevented their witness to the world. God sent judges, prophets, priests, apostles, and evangelists inviting the unbelieving world to trust Him. God blessed believers fulfilling promises, and covenants and warned rebels through disasters, plagues, wars. But self-centered people drift away following their own desires. 
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Throughout the ages, God tested human faith in unusual ways: Job's sufferings, Abraham's faith, Joseph's dreams, Samson's strength, David's victories, Solomon's wisdom, Jonah's fish. God sent angels, showed miracles. Finally, God's infinite love sent His sinless Son Jesus who died to pay for our sins and arose for our assurance. But! despite all God's pleadings, efforts, and warnings, cities, tribes, nation, schools, drift into hopeless corruption. Regretfully, God had to destroy them like a cancer to save the others. Just as God destroyed the violent evil people of Noah's day, He will again  in great tribulation  (Gen. 6:11-12; Matt. 24:21-22;37-39; Rev.6-19). Wake up friends! God pleads with us to open our hearts and minds to receive His love, peace, joy, purpose, salvation and Heaven. It's your choice.  God longs for relationship with us. Won't you trust Him for it?
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3. Our Denial of the Bible God ignores the facts, makes our world evil, and us bitter instead of better. Hardened unbelief shakes its fist in God's face "shouting--I'm handicapped. My loved one died. I've been victim of abuse, robbery, rape, murder; such evils abound--there can't be a good God or He would take out all the bad guys who abuse me."  Really!! If the Bible God of truth, love, justice, and authority doesn't exist, then where does that leave us? Think about it!
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Wouldn't it leave us with mere limited, conflicting, arrogant, human, self-centered opinions? Wouldn't it rob us of dignity and ethics, make our world a dangerous jungle, make us animals fighting each other for temporary survival? Doesn't that make us all self-centered rebels? --WE are the bad guys! And doesn't denial of Bible beliefs destroy all basis for justice, love, peace, truth, and hope! Life after death depends on the Savior who bore our sins on the cross and arose from the dead?  
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4. Yes, there is only one God throughout the Bible. A universe rather than a multi-verse is the effect of a single Mind. "In the beginning God" (not gods Gen.1:1). Israel's creed called the shema is, "Hear O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deut. 6:4). "I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God (Isaiah 44:6).  Jesus repeats and reaffirms Israel's creed in the N.T. (Mark 12:29). Paul agrees only one God (I Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). Logically,there can be only one Almighty, infinite, pure, perfect God. More than one God would require different kinds of beings. Paul explains other so-called Gods are merely idols or demons (1 Cor. 10:20). 
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But the One Bible God is a Trinity of divine persons. Space limits explanation. While the word Trinity is never mentioned, its clearly taught in many ways. First, each member is described as a person having a mind, emotions, and will; God is never represented as some kind of impersonal mindless force. Second, each person is shown to be God. Each has the names of God and called God,Yahweh, Lord, Savior. Each has offices of God--Creator, Redeemer, Judge. Each as God is worshiped, forgives sin, is praised and thanked. God the Father is seen through out the Bible. Jesus is the Angel of the Lord and the predicted Messiah. The Spirit appears is in Genesis 1:2 and numerous other times. So the Bible teaches only one God as the three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some say it's a contradiction!

But three persons in one essence is not a contradiction. It would be if it were three natures in one nature or three persons in one person. We rightfully expect the Creator of the universe to be greater that our limited understanding. We mustn't assume things we can't know in advance and accept what God has told us about Himself in His Word. God is like a lover (Father) a loved one (Son), and the Spirit of love. Or, a triangle with one body and three sides. 1 John 4:16.
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5. The Bible God  invites us into an eternal love-trust relationship with Him. This relationship is entered into if we will humbly admit we just care about fulfilling our selfish desires rather than trusting God's way to meet our needs on His terms in His time and way. Yes, it requires humility and trust that God's way is best after all. It's a decision for all this life and eternity. The wrong choice means eternal separation from God in darkness, loneliness, and self-chosen torments of Hell. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Friend, won't you say, Lord I trust you now as my own Savior, Lord, and Guide. 
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Saturday, June 20, 2015

What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?

                   What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?

Jehovah's Witnesses in some ways put most Christians to shame. They are often more knowledgeable and better trained in answering questions and defending their faith. They meet in Kingdom Halls rather than Churches and are earnest in Bible studies. They are zealous in presenting their faith even engaging people door-to-door. They're sometimes called the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, but better known as Jehovah's Witnesses. I will briefly discuss their founders, key writings, beliefs about God, how to be saved, what happens after death, and other interesting beliefs and practices in contrast to biblical Christian teachings. Then I will make some Christian comments.
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Their Founders. The original founders were Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) and later Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942). with headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. They were business men, not Bible trained, church ordained, didn't believe many Bible teachings they felt unreasonable, and they control their followers thinking. So they ignore or distort Bible passages they don't agree with and have developed their own religion of Bible interpretations which have spread to millions  worldwide. They are one of the world's largest publishers.
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In contrast, Biblical Christianity began with the resurrection of Jesus (A.D. 30-33) who claimed he was the Son of God and the Jews Messiah. At the same time, Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, performed many miracles, died to save sinners, arose from the dead, and ascended into heaven before hundreds of witnesses. Many died to testify to this truth. And yes, Bible teachings may seem unreasonable, but only if you don't or won't accept a just and loving, sovereign Creator, Sustainer, and rightful Judge and Authority over the universe and humanity. All these things are discussed in my other articles.
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Their key writings. The only Bible JW accept is their own New World Translation. Their other real authoritative writings are Reasoning from the Scriptures, You Can live Forever in Paradise on Earth, and the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. While they claim to follow the Bible, their other writings are their real authorities and they won't allow anyone in their organization to disagree or question their teachings.
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It's unknown who produced their New World Translation, but scholars who know the original Hebrew and Greek languages say their New World Translation isn't correctly translated, and that they differ and distort passages that show Christian beliefs. Christians believe that is putting human opinion over God's inspired and proven revelation. Further, when Hebrew and Greek authorities say their New World Translation is incorrect;  how can JW feel honest to use it for their teaching?

Their beliefs about God. Among the teachings Jehovah's Witnesses deny are: the trinity, deity of Christ, his bodily resurrection, visible return, the Holy Spirit as God, God's promise of heaven for believers, their eternal security, and conscious eternal punishment of God-rejectors in Hell.
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All these teaching they deny are clearly taught many times in the Bible, and have been challenged ever since Jesus arose from the dead. There are so many evidences that support Bible teachings, but the Bibles God of love doesn't force himself on us. And being in his image and likeness is what gives us our dignity, freedom, ethics, love, justice, absolute authoritative truth, assurance of life after death, and his Word, the Bible is the basis for it all. No other world religion, worldview, or system of beliefs can compare with it.
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Their way to be saved. If God Created the universe, then it's reasonable he has infinite knowledge and wisdom making ours almost nothing (Isa. 40:13-14; 55:8-9). We show arrogance to think God must agree with our limited thinking. If God is perfect, then our thoughts, words, deeds can never measure up. The Bible is clear, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8-10). We can't achieve perfection to earn salvation nor erase our sins against God. Therefore, door-to-door telling people our beliefs won't make us fit for a perfect Heaven or earth. That's why, "God made Christ who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" (2 Cor. 5:21 NLT; Also see Eph. 2:8-10; John 3:16-21; Acts 16:31.
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Their beliefs about after death. Since JW taught so openly that only 144,000 persons will go to heaven, when their numbers exceeded that, they had to say the others will live on earth. They deny the Bible teaching of Hell and say unbelievers will be annihilated..
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But every time throughout the Bible the twelve tribes of Israel are mentioned, that's exactly what they were (Revelation 7), not JW that came into being centuries later when more persons became JW (Rev. 14). The loving Jesus mentioned Hell more than Heaven as a real conscious place of punishment. Jesus, being the God-man, is the one person absolutely certain. He cared enough to warn us of the truth. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus said conscious punishment of God-rejections is as real and long as eternal life is for the righteous. Are we to believe Jesus lied or meant to deceive us?
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Their other interesting beliefs and practices. They do not observe holidays or birthdays. They don't accept blood transfusions since we're commanded not to eat blood in Leviticus 17: 13-14. They are forbidden to vote, salute the flag, or work in the military since it's idolatry to show allegiance to any government  except Jehovah's Kingdom. But Romans 13;1-7 and 1 Pet. 2:13-14 says to submit to governments since governments are ordained of God to keep peace and punish evil doers.  Shouldn't we be sure of what the Bible really teaches?
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Christian comments. The Bible nowhere says that Jesus was Jehovah's first created being, was Michael, the archangel before his incarnation, and or Jesus died on a stake, not a cross. It doesn't say the Holy Spirit is a force from Jehovah, or that door-to-door engagements earns the way to heaven. JW firmly believe that Revelation 1:8 & Rev. 21:5-7 describe Jehovah God. But that same description describes Jesus in Rev. 1:17-18. JW are correct that the Latin term "trinity" is not mentioned the Bible, but it is taught in the Bible. It's no different than JW use the term "theocratic kingdom" in  their literature that's not mentioned in the Bible.
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Founder Russell predicted Christ would return in 1874, but when Jesus didn't show up, he recalculated the date 1914. When he didn't return then, Russell said he came to earth as a spirit. Founder Rutherford predicted Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would return to earth to promote the Kingdom of God between 1925-1929. He even built them a mansion in San Diego, California. But when they failed to show up, he moved into the mansion for himself.
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To set the record straight, carefully compare these verses in your Bible with JW New World Translation to see their many distortions: Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 1:1; 8:58; Philippians 2:11; Colossians 1:16; 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3, 8. Remember language experts don't agree with unknown JW translators.
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"How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord? If the prophet speaks in the Lord's name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared (Deut. 18:21-22) 
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In the beginning the Word already existed, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. "Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me" (John 1:1; 14; 14:6 NLT). Only believe, love, and follow.
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Monday, April 13, 2015

Can You Prove Jesus' Resurrection Is Only Fabrication?

      Can You Prove Jesus' Resurrection Is Only Fabrication?

Most persons dismiss it as a made-up ridiculous, impossible story. After all, how many cold stiff corpses have we seen arise from the dead? Such a miracle would be contrary to natural law. No scientific experiment has established such a thing. It must be a mistake or myth since the Bible has been translated multiple times and into many languages. But New Testament writers claim Bible Christianity stands or falls on it being fact (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). If true, it's implications couldn't be more crucial to humanity. So let's give the Christian claim our honest thoughtful consideration.
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There can be no  doubt Jesus died by crucifixion on the cross. In his trials, before both Roman and Jewish courts, he likely was deprived of food, drink, and sleep. The scourging was severe, tearing away his flesh. Some died from that alone. But also there was his carrying the cross in exhaustion, loss of blood from the crown of thorns to the nails in his feet. And His cry, "Father into your hands I commit my Spirit." The separation of water and blood from the spear piercing his side was conclusive proof. The soldiers trained in execution procedures didn't break his leg, for they knew he was already dead. Jesus' mother and disciple John stood by in grief witnessing his death. The soldiers gambled for his garments and took his naked body from the cross and  later gave it to the rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea, for burial in his stone tomb just outside Jerusalem. This was a sad day for Jesus' disciples thinking he was Messiah and King of Israel.
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The Jews and Romans in Jerusalem took steps to prevent any kind of deception about Jesus' claim to resurrection. "The leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told Him, 'Sir, we remember that deceiver once said while he was still alive. After three days I will rise from the dead. So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first. Pilate replied, Take guards and secure it the best you can." So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it?" (Matt. 27:62-65). Their precautions are actually what God used to demonstrate the resurrection of Jesus was an indisputable fact.
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The news about Jesus' death and resurrection was made known shortly after their supposed occurrence.  Dr. Luke, the companion of the apostle Paul, who wrote his earlier gospel now writes about the first 30 years of the church. He says of Jesus, "During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
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On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached, "People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip" (Acts 2:22-23). Peter preached this on Pentecost 50 days after Jesus' resurrection before people from surrounding nations. 
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Anyone could investigate Jesus' tomb just outside the city. The disciples who in fear had been locked  in the upper room now were joyously telling everyone--He's alive! He's Alive! And how could the religious leaders who plotted Jesus' death explain that at his death the earthquake, the darkness, the thick temple curtain torn from top to bottom, and the dead persons that came into the city (Matt. 27:51-54)? Five thousand men plus women and children became believers.
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The Apostle Peter wrote (2 Peter 1:16).  "We are not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes." Peter was referring to Jesus' transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-6. Tradition says Peter didn't think he was worthy to be crucified as his Lord and requested to be crucified upside down.
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In Acts 3:4 Peter healed a lame temple beggar and preached in the name of Jesus who the nation's leaders crucified and who God according to plan, raised from the dead. And that the people should turn from their sins to trust in Jesus who they crucified, but God raised from the dead. Peter said there was no one else God has given under heaven by which we must be saved. The high Jewish council put Peter and John in jail and commanded them never to preach Jesus and his resurrection. But they replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard"
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Apostle John wrote (1 John. 1:1-4). "We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy."  
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This is  not some religious man's opinions about what god is and can or cannot do (Acts 14:12-15), or what some politically correct politician thinks (Acts 26:8), or someone's claim an angel he alone saw, told me so (Gal. 1:8), or what some centuries later critic removed from the scene can believe (Col. 2:8). This is citing real historical events only historical eyewitness testimony can establish.

 What is real serious is what God says about it Acts 17:30-31 says "God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he command everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead."
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Apostle Paul wrote (1 Cor. 15:3-6 About A.D. 55). "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried,  and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one  time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. The apostles spoke before hostile witnesses who admitted they couldn't deny the events.
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Many of the hymns and creeds used by the first Christians are incorporated into the New Testament letters. Check out these Rom. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Tim.3:16; 2 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:18-22; 1 Jn. 4:2. Moreover, there are 5,700 early Greek manuscripts used to make modern translations, plus writings of the church fathers. This documented sources for the classic writings as of Plato, Aristotle, Caesar are only a few copies dated a 1,000 years after the time. Nor is Jesus' resurrection related to myths about about crops coming to life in the spring. Jews of Jesus' time believed in one ethical Creator God, not the pagan myths that came into prominence after his time. It seems the reason we sinners deny Jesus' death for our sins and his resurrection is that we think our sinful desires more important to us than the invitation of a loving, all-knowing God to save us from our deceptive, destructive beliefs and behavior. 
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Modern critics have tried to explain away the records but utterly failed. No we haven't seen any cold stiff corpses arise from the dead. But the only reason it would be impossible is if we assume no Creator of the universe and life exists who can raise the dead. Jesus' death and resurrection was in God's time, and not to be a daily affair (Gal. 4:4-5). And yes, it is contrary to natural law, but again if a God exists who upholds natural law, this would be His purpose and proof it is so. Scientific experiments are not the means of proving or disproving historical events. Documented eyewitness testimony is the means to do that. Remember too, the apostles were astonished even though Jesus told them many times he would die and rise again after three days. The first Christians were monothestic Jews who were willing to die in testimony it was true. Their traditional belief would condemn them to hell. But the religious leaders of Jesus' day had vested interests and plotted to murder Jesus even though they knew he raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:45-53).
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What can we conclude from all this? (1) Jesus claimed to be God many times and ways and his resurrection from the dead, in fact showed his claims and teaching are the truth and authority of God. (2) Jesus then is in fact the long awaited Jews Messiah, and the Savior of all who will believe, trust, depend on him for life eternal with God.  (3) Jesus said this to the human world facing the darkness of death and Hell, "I Am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this . . . ?" John 11:25-26)
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To seal assurance of your faith and avoid future doubts. Pray, Lord God, I'm a sinner ashamed of many things I have done that I know are wrong. But you promised me eternal life and to be with me and be my Guide in Godly living. I depend on you from now on throughout life and until you come for me or I die and go to you. Thank you Lord for making me your adopted child. See 1 John 5:11-13. You can now win others to our Lord by sharing these important articles WWW.  God bless you to bear spiritual fruit (Jn. 15 ) & people fruit (Matt. 4:19).
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Serious Issues & Solutions

Serious Issues & Solutions 

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We naturally object to statements that we think untrue. We sometimes do have doubts about Christian faith even if raised in a Christian home, or are Christians ourselves. Consider these doubts and answers. I’ll present the objection in title or bold print below and the following paragraph will be the response in each case.
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There is no absolute truth.

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Are you absolutely sure? Then, opposites can be equally true. We don’t have to believe what our parents, children, teachers, doctors, lawyers, tax collectors, sales persons, bosses, or anyone else might tell us is really true. We don’t have to believe traffic signs, labels on medicine, house numbers, and a hundred other things we take for granted every day. In fact, we don’t even have to believe the statement above that “there is no absolute truth” is true either—it self-destructs. Honestly, can any statement be more ridiculous? Persons making this objection usually only apply it to spiritual and moral issues. They don't consider the evidence because it suggests they change their way of living to please God.
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Jesus was only a good man and great teacher, but not the Son of God.

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This statement is self-refuting. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and our Savior. If that’s not true, then Jesus is a liar or lunatic. And that would mean he’s not even a good man. Moreover, he did things over three years that demonstrated publically before large crowds that only God could do such as heal diseases instantly, walk on water, raise the dead, and assent into Heaven. Neither man nor nature can do such things—only God alone. Therefore, Jesus must be God as he claimed. Friend, have you read the Bible with an open mind, or just uncritically assumed someone’s negative comments were correct?
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Man is not evil, but only good.

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A  bad environment can make persons turn bad. Provide good education, housing, jobs, and all basic human needs and people will be good.
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History and psychology show conclusively that man is naturally corrupt in thought, will, and practice. Children don’t need to be taught to lie, steal, cheat, or harm people or things. If man is good, why do people everywhere have locked doors, a police force, judges, prisons, and armies? This shouldn’t be true if people were really good. We can have evil thoughts even when we don’t act on them. Nazi Germany was the most educated people, yet murdered millions of Jews and anybody who disagreed with Hitler. Of course, monists can redefine sin and evil as illusion, but they can’t live at though it’s true—ask one to step in front of an oncoming train. Human pride prevents people from admitting their sinners. Scripture is true that man’s heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:18-32). We humans can do good, but we have a dark evil nature as well in thought, word, and deed. Realistically, we have both a dignity and a depravity.
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I’m an atheist who says dogmatically there’s no God of any kind.

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Just because you haven’t seen anything you would call a personal God, does that mean he can’t exist or can’t be an immaterial Spirit? Do you know what’s going on in the next town, next house, even the next room? If we could draw a circle big enough to represent universal knowledge, a period, if that, would represent a man’s knowledge. A person would have to know everything in time and space to say there’s no God, or God can’t act in our world, can’t perform a miracle, or can’t speak to a human mind. Isn’t atheism then an arrogant self-contradictory pretension to having a God-like knowledge? The agnostic says, ‘I don’t know or we can’t know about God’. Of course, he’s right that a mystic’s subjective claims about God (Muhammad, Buddha) have no evidential value. But he’s fooling himself if he hasn’t addressed the ancient detailed prophecies about the Jewish Messiah fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and Christ’s miracles, sinless life, and resurrection?
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Science proves miracles never happened.

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How does science prove miracles never happened? Miracles are a matter of eyewitness history. Can science prove anything in history by experimental method like the existence of Napoleon or Caesar? If a Creator God exists, then miracles, angels, human souls and divine revelations certainly can exist. It’s only the false assumption of naturalism that denies it. The atheist would have to have exhaustive knowledge to disprove it. Moreover, human senses can detect spiritual things as God and angels if they choose to show themselves. Christ is better attested in history than what others believed without doubt.
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Evolution Best Explains the Origin of Life.

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There are several problems honest thinking people cannot ignore. How can something come from nothing? Nothing means no-thing or nonexistence, and no power to produce anything. How can order evolve from disorder? Drop red, white and blue confetti from a plane and it doesn’t arrange itself into the American flag. Life doesn’t emerge from non-life--spontaneous generation is a myth.. Blind lifeless chemicals can't arrange themselves into the complex life forms in any amount of time. There's no missing links--it's a whole missing chain. Life forms  have systems and organs genetically programmed to function together from the beginning. Such complex design strongly suggest an infinite designer--God.
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Christianity is okay for you, but not for me.

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People have right to their own lifestyle. So don’t bother me with your religion. What feels good is true and right for me, and I don't like Jesus.
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Hedonistic lifestyles lead to disaster. They are a selfish disregard for others. They destroy trust, objects, friendships, families, and nations as well as the hedonist. Some persons take pleasure in deception, robbery, rape and murder--would you call such things right? If a compassionate friend had the cure for your cancer, would you say, “don’t bother me?” Christians show compassion to tell sinners of the Savior from godless living and eternal Hell. Do you know no judgment day and no Hell exist? Can you prove it? It’s too serious a matter just to risk eternal darkness and torment. And how would you feel and be if everyone applied your inconsiderate lifestyle to you, you’re friends, and your loved ones?
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I am not a sinner.

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 A sinner is a social outcast--a drunk, dope addict, or whore, but I’m not bad like that.
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We can always find others worse than us and condemn them. This makes us feel superior, self-righteous, respectable and prideful like the Pharisee in the temple (Luke 18:9-14). The truth is we all sin to different degrees and in different areas. Our list for respectability is different from our neighbors and usually doesn’t include our own sins. We even blame God for giving us the freedom to commit them. Would you prefer the opposite of free will? be programmed machines without human dignity.
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We cannot obey God’s laws 100% of the time. Nor can we take away sins already committed. This means we must humbly acknowledge our sin and trust the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man and Savior of us sinners.  Jesus paid for our sin in His death on the cross and His righteous is credited to our account. His resurrection proves all He said and did is true and He is our only hope for life eternal  in Heaven. Call Christ paying for our sins injustice if you like, but without Jesus we have no basis for injustice in an animal eat animal jungle.
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I’m too bad a sinner.

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I’m not respectable. I’m a no-good, a whore, drunk, drug addict. God could never forgive me. Christianity is only for good, respectable persons.
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Surprisingly, the Bible teaches that “good people” go to Hell and “bad people” go to Heaven. Jesus said he had not come to call the righteous but sinners. In other words, prideful self-righteous persons unwilling to acknowledge their sin and unworthiness before God are doomed to Hell. But persons who humbly confess their sin and need of forgiveness, like the tax collector praying in the temple are justified, but not the proud self-righteous Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14). God will save any true repentant believer in Christ (Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9-10).
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I don’t believe Jesus arose from the dead.

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Jesus’ resurrection depends upon evidence, not an assumption of universal knowledge about nature. Five hundred witnesses saw Jesus after he arose from the dead (1 Cor. 15). Brilliant skeptics have devised a dozen failed theories to explain it away, but cannot. The sealed guarded tomb, left grave clothes, Jesus appearances, skeptical disciples, establishment of the church, martyrs, Sunday worship, and the New Testament, dating time B.C to A.D., make no sense unless Jesus arose. See my articles on Jesus’ resurrection.
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If God doesn’t exist, then human dignity, rights and freedom mean nothing. We’re mere soulless dirt as atheists believe or recycled energy and on our way to nothingness as pantheists believe. We can't know the Lord is good until we trust Him and see. Jesus is the only way, truth, and life for all who say--I trust in You Lord Jesus to be my Savior, Lord, and life Guide.
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If you know someone who feels this way, share this blog on www as a ministry to help a desperate world in need. Thank you. "Lord, bless my friend for his or her conviction,  courage, and Godly helpful ministry."
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For more short rebuttals of false assumptions I recommend, The New Atheism and The Erosion of Freedom by Robert A. Morey and The Christian Combat Manual by Dan Story, and True For You But Not For Me by Paul Copan.